QuickBooks Online
Intuit's cloud accounting software, the default bookkeeping tool for US small businesses and their accountants.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 7
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is Intuit's browser-based accounting product and the tool most US accountants expect their small-business clients to use. It covers invoicing, bill tracking, bank feeds and reconciliation, sales tax, reporting, and add-ons for payroll, payments and time tracking, with a long list of third-party integrations. Higher tiers add more users, inventory, project profitability, classes and locations, and a growing set of AI features that Intuit bundles under the Intuit Intelligence name. Intuit now lists a basic free tier for a single user alongside the paid plans, which are billed monthly per company and are often discounted for the first few months. The main complaints are steady price increases, upsells for payroll and payments, and uneven support. It runs in the browser with iOS and Android apps. If you have a US accountant it is usually the path of least resistance; if price or simplicity matter more, lighter tools exist.
Best for: US small businesses that work with an accountant and want the most widely supported tool.
Pros and cons
What works
- Almost every US accountant and bookkeeper knows it
- Large integration catalogue plus payroll and payments add-ons
- Scales from a sole trader to a mid-sized company on one product
Why people leave
- Prices have risen repeatedly and add-ons add up
- Free tier is limited to one user and basic tracking
- Support quality is a frequent complaint
Top QuickBooks Online alternatives
See all 7- 1
Xero66.5Unlimited users on every plan and a cleaner interface, with a similar accountant ecosystem.
- 2
FreshBooks62.6Simpler, invoicing-first tool for service businesses and freelancers who bill clients.
- 3
Zoho Books59.6Lower per-organisation pricing, a real free plan and the wider Zoho suite.
- 4
Wave57.2Free core bookkeeping and invoicing for very small businesses watching every dollar.
- 5
Digits53.6AI-first books for teams that want automation to do most of the categorising.
Why people left QuickBooks Online
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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QuickBooks Online: common questions
Is QuickBooks Online free?
QuickBooks Online has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes, 1 user (checked on QuickBooks Online's own site).
Is QuickBooks Online open source?
No, QuickBooks Online is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Odoo Accounting.
What platforms does QuickBooks Online run on?
QuickBooks Online is available for Web, iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to QuickBooks Online?
The highest-ranked QuickBooks Online alternatives right now are Xero, FreshBooks and Zoho Books. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.